Diggerland USA theme park breaks ground in N.J.

City officials and company management assumed their positions and broke ground next to a shovel on the end of an 18,000 pound 4CX Backhoe operated by Brandon Moore. - (Diggerland USA)

This summer, New Jersey will become home to the first ever construction-themed adventure park in the United States.

Sahara Sam's Oasis is continuing its expansion on Cooper Road in Camden County, adding a 14-acre Diggerland USA adventure park adjacent to its existing indoor and outdoor water park, according to a news release. The park will incorporate hands-on operation of machinery with other family-friendly attractions.

At a ground-breaking ceremony on Tuesday, city officials and Sahara's management team broke ground next to an 18,000-pound backhoe operated by Brandon Moore, the general manager of the water park and what will be Diggerland USA, according to the release.

The backhoe is just one of the many pieces of heavy construction equipment that visitors will have the opportunity to ride and drive. Families will also be able to hop on skid-steer loaders, tractors, mini dumpers and small excavators. Other attractions at the site include rock climbing, train rides, a ropes course, arcade games and a swamp buggy attraction, the company website stated.

Diggerland has four similar parks in the UK.

"Today is another milestone for this team, our family and the Jersey community," Diggerland and Sahara's principal Yan Girlya said in a prepared statement. He went on to describe the project as "one of the many dynamic amusement initiatives you can expect from a team that works this hard."

Girlya is the general manager of SAMBE Construction, which is overseeing the design and project administration of Diggerland. SAMBRE is also responsible for the construction of Sahara's which opened in 2009.